NOTEBOOK: Naanee expected back

For the first time this season, the Chargers escaped Sunday's game against New England without a new significant injury. And they will get at least one reinforcement back this week.

But two key players will remain sidelined.

Legedu Naanee (hamstring) is expected back this week to give Philip Rivers another veteran target. But top wide receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) is likely going to be inactive another Sunday, as is placekicker Nate Kaeding (groin).

A timing thing

Louis Vasquez got the false start penalty that pushed back the Chargers’ attempt at a game wining kick on Sunday, but give an assist to the new kicker. Not necessarily Kris Brown specifically but Brown’s newness to the field goal unit.

Brown takes slightly longer than Kaeding to line up for a kick, which means the offensive line has to be in its set position longer. It’s a difference of about a second, but it’s significant enough that the Chargers will work this week on how to better ready for Brown’s attempts.

“I’m not making an excuse, you can’t false start, you can’t move,” Norv Turner said. “…We have a new center; his timing is a little different. We have a new kicker. Mike (Scifres, the holder) made sure to give Kris a long time to get ready. Those guys were down over the ball for a lot longer than normal. They’ve got to be able to handle it, but we’ve got some work to do to get that group to where they’ve been.”

After the penalty moved the Chargers back five yards, Brown’s attempt from 50 yards sailed straight down the hash mark and hit the right upright.

Fishing on finishes

Vincent Jackson caught six touchdown passes from inside the red zone last season, including the game winner against the New York Giants with 21 seconds left.

In discussing Chargers’ failure on all four of their drives to possibly win or tie at the end of losses this season, Rivers was asked if Jackson’s absence has made a difference.

“No,” Rivers said. “I think that is fishing for a reason.”

In the Chargers’ four fourth-quarter game-winning drives in 2009, Jackson had three catches for 51 yards. His 14 receptions for 298 yards in the fourth quarter of games his team was winning or losing by no more than seven points ranked sixth in the league.

Moreover, though, even though they lead the league in yards, it would be difficult to deny the Chargers have missed Jackson at least a little in the entirety of games. Even Rivers, who has declined to speak about Jackson’s impending return, would likely be more inclined to do so.

Rivers is disappointed in the Chargers’ inability to score when needed at the end of games but not as much as he is frustrated by their inability to do so as often as they should earlier.

“When you are dependent on the last drive, after fighting to get back in it to win games, it’s tough,” Rivers said. “Certainly, we’ve been in position to do it and are capable of making those plays, but it’s the previous errors that are putting us in those spots.”

Neal is a thespian?

Nose tackle Antonio Garay possibly helped extend the Patriots' drive to what proved to be the winning touchdown Sunday. After a two-yard gain by Danny Woodhead would have given the Patriots a third-and-seven at their 24-yard line.

But when New England guard Stephen Neal, a San Diego High product, reached in to apparently help untangle the ensuing pile Garay shoved him. After what seemed like a brief midair suspension, Neal crumpled to the ground.

“It was a hell of a performance by him,” Garay said. “He was flopping all day.”